What is hyoscine?

The West Australian

VideoNine people overdosed on the drug, hyoscine. So what exactly is it?

A drug that put nine young backpackers in hospital — including three who remained in intensive care last night—has been identified as a common prescription medication that is also known to be used illegally as a date rape drug.

The West Australian understands authorities were surprised by the test results which identified the drug as hyoscine, commonly used to treat motion sickness.

But the drug is also popular with criminals in countries such as Colombia because of its ability to put overdose victims into a “zombie”-like state, making them easier to rob or sexually abuse.

The seven men and two women who overdosed on Tuesday night were all aged between 21 and 25 and included five French nationals, two Germans, one Italian and a Moroccan.

There are fears more could be at risk as police try to work out what the drug was.

The West Australian

VideoThere are fears more could be at risk as police try to work out what the drug was.

The group became violently ill about 9pm after taking the drug together at the home they shared on Colombo Street, Victoria Park.

Within minutes they suffered extreme symptoms, including seizures, paralysis, overheating and hallucinations.

Doctors say it was lucky no one died as a result of the overdose.

The Italian victim, who only wanted to be known by his first name, Simone, said the drug had arrived at their house through the mail in a package addressed to someone who did not live at the property.

Camera IconThe Victoria Park home where numerous people were found in an unconscious or semi-conscious state.Picture: Mogens Johansen/The West Australian

Despite not being the intended recipients, the man said they decided to open it anyway and found a white powder that was wrapped in a piece of paper with the word “scoop” written on the outside.

Another name for hyoscine is scopolamine, possibly explaining the presence of the word “scoop”. Believing the powder was cocaine, the group divided it into nine equal portions before snorting it up their noses.

Simone said he became paralysed and was unable to scream for help.

“We were powerless, we couldn’t do anything,” he said.

The alarm was eventually raised by another housemate who had been out for the evening and came home to find her friends in urgent need of medical care.

Camera IconBackpackers arrive at the Victoria Park property after spending the night in hospital.Picture: Mogens Johansen/The West Australian

Neighbour Mark Evans described confronting scenes as a string of ambulances arrived at the property and began ferrying the backpackers to hospital.

“It was carnage ... some of them were strapped to the stretchers and were totally unconscious. Two other guys were fitting and flailing around with their arms and legs and pulling strange faces.”

RPH emergency physician David McCutcheon said it was not yet known whether any of the patients would suffer lasting injuries, such as damage to their internal organs.

“They were brought to us in a state of agitated delirium,” Dr McCutcheon said. “They were hallucinating, their hearts were racing, several of them had to be put in a medically induced coma for their own protection and I really need to emphasise how seriously unwell they were.

Camera IconA backpacker pays the taxi after returning from a night in hospital.Picture: Mogens Johansen/The West Australian

“Several of these people would have died I’m pretty sure without medical intervention and three of them are still in a critical condition.

“They are still requiring full life support in ICU.”

Acting Deputy Police Commissioner Gary Budge said the incident served as a timely warning to all drug users about the dangers of taking any illicit drug

“The message to anyone who is taking illicit drugs is that you could be the next one if you continue to take illicit drugs,” he said.